The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-14
NUMISMATICS.
SOME FACTS ABOUT RARE AND
VALUABLE COINS.
Prices Paid for Some-Scarce Amert.
can Gold and Silver Coins"
Other Rare Coins
Rare Medals.


Rare Medals.
A dealer in rare coins said to New
York Eceniag Sun reporter: 'There
are several varieties that we would at
present be very glad to encounter, among
which may be mentioned the gold dol
lar of 1868, for which we would willing
ly pay $3.50. For specimens of the $3
gold pieces of 1873, rs, and '76 we
would give good premium. There are
many other United States coins that
either have been or are still in circula-
ton, for which good prices can be OBJ
tanned when the piece has not been mutt.
lated or too much worn. The rarest of
all these is the 1904 dollar, for which we
offer $3.50.
"Another good coin to have is the
original half dollar Of 1861. The OBJ
verse is similar to the present type, but
the reverse contains a United States
shield, surmounted by liberty cap the
whole being surrounded by wreath OF
oak and laurel leaves. For good copy
we would give 5000. Among the old
style of large copper cents there are
many valuable dates, all the old issues
from 1893, when the United States issued
the first copper cent, to 1914, being
worth premium ranging from one cent
to S.. The cent worth the last men
toned sum is that of 1899. An 1SO4
cent is also good date to have, being
worth So. None of the small 1-cent
pieces of the current style arc yet worth
premium, except the one first issued.
This is known as the "Flying Eagle
cent of 1855. It is made of nickel and is
worth $1.50.
The only nickel Scent piece worth
premium is that of 1877, which brings
is cents, but the little old Scent silver
pieces from 1868 to 1878 inclusive all
have premiums on them ranging from
Is to so cents. The only nickel scent
piece with premium is the one Of 1877,
which is worth 15 cents.
"The little antique ! cents so much
used by our grandpas are now becoming
rare, and nearly all those issued have
premiums ranging from 1 cent to $5.
Those worth the last mentioned sum are
the issues of 1895, 1886, 42, 43, At,
and 4s. Other rare dates that do not
bring quite as much are 1910, Al, IA,
45, ~, and '55.
We now come to the higher dcnomi.
nations, there being but few rare issues
among the silver dimes and half-dimes
About the only one of interest is the 8
cent piece of 1902, which fetches $25
Both the silver 2O-cent pieces of 1877
and '7s are valuable, bringing $1.5(
each.
"The quarter of 1853, similar in ap'
pearance to the present issue, which has
on its reverse side no lines back of tho
eagle, is worth $3.50. Some of the Older
% cent pieces bring much more-that oi
1923 bringing SIS, and that of 1897
bringing $50. Among the half dollars
beside the one already mentioned, there
are several with premiums. That of ITO
is worth SEQ; that of 1796, $1s; and
there are smaller premiums for those Of
1894, '95, 1901, 'O2, '15, '26, and '52.
"The silver dollars come next in order,
among the most valuable being those OF
1904 (bust of Liberty with flowing hair
worth S25; 1885 worth $15, 80 worth
$40, 81 and '52 worth $40. Other dates
with premiums among the latter issues
are 1854, '55, '5G, 81, '61, '63, 'G4, '65
and '67. The last five must be sharp
impressions to be worth more than theil
face value. Among the gold coins there
are also number with premiums, those
of 1870, II, ~. Nearly all the quarter
eagles or two dollar and half pieces
issued between 1876 and 1884 also bring
more than their face value, the rarest
being the issue of 1926, which is worth
$40. Among the S. pieces there are
some good dates. Those of 1895 with
large eagle, 1897 with either large OF
small eagle, and 1901, being worth $40
each That of 1876 is worth $15, 1924,
$40, and 1928, $12. In $40 pieces, OF
Eag lies, there are few good ones worth
dollar or two premium; but the majority
are not worth anything beyond their
face. The coin highest in denomination
worth a premium is the $40 or double
eagle of 1S40, which brings $50.
HOutside of the United States, there
is very little call for the coins of this
country. as every coinage is better ap-
prcciated in its own country than it is
anywhere else. A fine American dollar
brings the highest price in New York,
and fine English crown pieces sell best
in London. The Canadians, for exam
pie, are great collectors of their own
coinage. Their series of issues. however,
Is much smaller than ours, that of the
United States commencing in 1913,
while many of their pieces are rude in
execution aud have no reference at oil
upon them to their-conntry.
'"The study of the early issues OF the
various colonies, prior to the institution
of the United States Mint in t776. is ex-
ceedingly interesting. They are called
Colonial coins and date from 1904, dur
ing William and Mary's reign, and were
issued in the Carolinas and New England
irregularly up to 1773, under George III.
The issues were in the form of copper
cents. and are now very valuable speci-
mems, being worth from $50 to $2j. The
Continental Issues, as may call them,
although this term has never been ap-
piled before, are also very interesting.
These were various copper cents, issued
by a numb"r of the independent States,
namely, Vermont, Massachusetts, Con-
nccticut, New York, and New Jersey,
between the years 1888 and 1888. They
are all rare, many being very valuable.
The first piece OF money ever issued by
the United States rs Il power, under di.
rection of the Continental Congress, was